The Everyman Theatre Brings The Game Of A Lifetime!
With more energy than a fast-paced match this new play, by one of the North West’s most prominent young writers, Nick Leather, tells the story of young Billy who dreams of fame and fortune as a footballer. Directed by Serdar Bilis (The May Queen, Proper Clever) and with a cast that includes Liverpool actors Neil Caple and David Lyons, Billy Wonderful plays away for a month during February at community venues across Merseyside before returning to its home ground, the Everyman Theatre in Liverpool from Thursday 12 March to Saturday 4 April.

Billy’s made the squad and it’s wonderful. He’s down the wing and he’s flying. He doesn’t believe in much, but he believes in this….in football. As the Blues and the Reds come out to play, it’s D day for Billy…Derby Day. Will Billy keep his head or will he fall foul of fame and fortune?

Audiences are encouraged to grab their scarves and wear their footie tops for a night of high energy as they truly experience a Liverpool Everton derby day. The play follows the highs and lows as one-time boy wonder, Billy Walters, relives the Merseyside Derby match that marked the turning point in his life. Those key moments in the match are mirrored with key events in Billy’s life over 22 years. Set in ‘the round’ the show will turn the Everyman theatre into a football stadium and the audience into spectators of one match and one boy’s life as the relationship between theatre and football is explored. Can Billy achieve his lifelong ambition of scoring the winner in the Derby, and is there really such a thing as life after football?

Everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy great theatre, which is why following our successful tour of John Fay’s Cruel Sea in 2007, the Everyman and Playhouse theatres bring Billy Wonderful to the Merseyside community before its run at the Everyman. The highly physical show tours Merseyside and will be shown to public audiences and schools in conjunction with theatre and football workshop’s and masterclasses.